Two former Texas sheriffs charged with the death of a black man

AUSTIN, Texas – Two former Texas Sheriff’s assistants were arrested on Tuesday on manslaughter in the 2019 death of a man they shocked with stun guns after a police chase that was filmed by the crime television series in real time “Live PD,” authorities said. .

The charges are the first directly linked to the death of Javier Ambler, a black man whose car assistants pursued for 22 minutes after attempting to stop him for allegedly failing to dim his oncoming headlights. Ambler, a former postal worker, died after MPs repeatedly used stun guns on him, despite pleading that he was ill and could no longer breathe. The stop in suburban Austin was filmed on “Live PD,” which was canceled by A&E Network in June.

The indictments were announced as a former Minneapolis police officer stands on trial in the death of George Floyd, a case that has once again brought police brutality and racial injustice to the fore in the United States.

Former Williamson County Sheriff’s Deputies James Johnson, 36, and Zachary Camden, 26, were both charged with second degree manslaughter on Monday, Travis District Attorney Jose Garza said. They were held in a Travis County jail Tuesday and released on bail of $ 150,000 each within an hour, according to a spokeswoman for the Travis County Sheriff’s Office.

“We are very pleased to see that the Travis County District Attorney is serious in seeking justice for our family. Our goal has always been to empower these agents so that there are no more suffering families like ours, ”said Javier Ambler Sr., Ambler’s father, in a statement provided by family lawyers. .

Defense attorneys for former MPs dismissed the indictments as political and said Ambler’s death was the result of heart disease and his “physical effort to resist” MPs.

“Mr. Johnson and Mr. Camden are neither morally nor legally responsible for his death,” said attorneys Ken Ervin and Doug O’Connell. “We are calling for a trial as soon as possible where we can make sure that the policy, the campaign promises and sensationalist media portrayals will not distort the truth of what happened. “

Garza, a Democrat elected by a large majority in November, said during his campaign for district attorney that he planned to prioritize Ambler’s case.

Former Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody was also charged last year with destroying or concealing a video as part of an investigation into Ambler’s death.

Johnson, who initiated the traffic stop, is black. Camden is white. Both MPs had “live PD” teams with them at the time.

Police body camera video of Ambler’s death shows the panting 400-pound (180-kilogram) man telling MPs he wants to comply with their demands but can’t because he suffers from congestive heart failure.

“I’m not resisting,” Ambler shouts. “Sir, I can’t breathe. … Please. … Please.”

The body camera video was posted by Austin American-Statesman and KVUE-TV last year. A&E said its video was never released due to a policy against showing a death.

The indictments accuse the MPs of acting “recklessly” in “pursuing all of the restraint measures and actions described when (Ambler) repeatedly said he could not breathe and had a health problem. “

A&E did not respond to a request for comment on the indictments.

———

Bleiberg reported from Dallas.